Harold Darke’s well-regarded setting was written in
1911 and published by Stainer & Bell, London. It was originally made famous by
the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Darke was born 29 October 1888 in
London and died 28 November 1976, in Cambridge. Darke received his formal
training at the Royal College of Music, where he studied composition with
Charles Villiers Stanford, and at Oxford. He had a world-wide reputation as one
of the finest organists and choristers of his era.

Thomas B. Strong is unknown in music, per se.
Thomas Banks Strong, DD (1861-1944) was, variously, Vice Chancellor of Oxford
(circa 1897), Dean of Christ Church, Bishop of Ripon and Bishop of Oxford
(1925-1937). He appears to have some interest in music, as evidence by two
items, both related to the English composer, Sir William Walton:

(1) "Sir William Walton (1902-1983) was a chorister at
Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford between 1912 and 1918. Dr Henry Ley
(1887-1962) who had succeeded Harwood as Organist there in 1909 recognized his
outstanding talents and introduced him to Sir Hugh Allen, Fellow of New
College and Choragus to the University. The Dean at that time, The Very
Reverend Dr Thomas Banks Strong, took an interest in young Walton's welfare
and managed to persuade the boy's father to allow him to become an
undergraduate at the University at the early age of sixteen. But Walton left
in 1920 having repeatedly failed Responsions- a requirement of the BA
degree." Source: Sleeve notes to "The
English Anthem, Volume 7."

(2) A dedication "To The Right Rev. Thomas Banks Strong,
Bishop of Ripon" by Sir William Walton of his work "Quartet for
Piano and Strings" which was composed 1918-1921 and first performed
October 30, 1929 in London. Source: William Walton Net.

"In the Bleak Midwinter" was written by English poet Christina
Rossetti (1830-1894) for inclusion in her collection Poetical Works,
1904, where it was indicated to have been written before 1872. This text then
gained great popularity when it was paired with "Cranham" in The
English Hymnal, 1906. Written by the famous composer Gustav Holst
(1874-1934), "Cranham" was composed specifically for this text.

Although Christmas was linked by the 4th century church with 25th December as
part of a strategy to Christianize various mid-winter solstice pagan festivals,
there is no biblical association of the birth of Jesus with mid-winter. This
poem appeared, dated 1872, in the posthumous collection of Christina Rossetti, a
deeply religious daughter of an Italian emigrée academic and English mother (so
religious she refused the proposal of marriage from a man she loved deeply and
thereafter became prone to melancholy). It was first used as a hymn in the
English Hymnal of 1906, where it appeared with a tune composed by Gustav Holst,
"Cranham."

If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.